Wildfires across France and Spain have forced more than 330,000 people to flee their homes in one of the largest peacetime civilian evacuation operations ever carried out in France. The blazes have threatened major areas, including the wine region city of Bordeaux and Madrid, while a new fire has erupted in Spain's Vall d’Uixó region.
In southwest France's Gironde region, approximately 220,000 people have been evacuated, including 55,000 forced out overnight Sunday as flames crept closer to Bordeaux. The fire has consumed an area four times the size of Paris and closed 60 kilometers of the A63 highway. French Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez described the unprecedented and unpredictable situation as very unfavourable. To battle the blazes, authorities deployed 2,500 firefighters, including a Swiss team, 1,500 military personnel, and up to 1,700 security forces, supported by aerial resources.
Spain is facing its own crisis, with over 75,000 people evacuated and another 30,000 ordered to shelter in place. The Avila region has suffered its worst blaze in recent history, and officials report that at least one person has died. The fires have caused the closure of highways and rail lines, prompting the prime minister to warn of difficult hours ahead.
These disasters are linked to prolonged drought and successive heatwaves since May, which scientists say have been intensified by climate change. With forests parched and high winds complicating containment efforts, authorities remain on alert as another heatwave is forecast to hit Europe this week.